Reclosable container



Jan. 28, 1964 G. J. LATA 3,119,513

RECLOSABLE CONTAINER Filed May 18, 1962 2o I 22 I8 FIG. l

FIG.4

INVENTOR.

GEORGE J. LATA ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,119,513 RECLOSABLE CONTAINER George J. Lata, 8943 Saratoga Drive, Oak Lawn, Ill. Filed May 18, 1962, Ser. No. 195,846 3 Claims. (Cl. 22035?) This invention relates to novel reclosable containers. More particularly, this invention relates to novel containers which can be reduced in height to facilitate the removal of the contents thereof, but which can be effectively closed when the contents are not being dispensed. The containers of this invention are especially useful as containers for perishable foods.

Modern packaging techniques include the packaging of various commodities in relatively large containers for the purpose of economy to the consumer. In many instances, the utilization of relatively large containers suffers from the disadvantage that after a certain quantity of the commodity has been removed from the container, it is difficult to remove the remaining amount. For example, when foods, such as preserves, peanut butter, and apple sauce, are sold in large size jars, it is often difficult for one to remove the last portions of the food from the jar and keep his hands away from the sides of the jar so that they will remain free of food.

My invention is based on a novel reclosable container which eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages in packaging various commodities in containers of large size. My invention permits the packaging of various goods in containers of large size, yet the latter removed portions of the packaged goods are as easily removed as the first portions, and the container can be closed when the contents are not being dispensed. Briefly, the reclosable container of my invention is molded of an organo-plastic material so that the height thereof can be reduced. The container can be effectively sealed with a removably mounted closure when it is at reduced heights, as well as its initial height.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to provide a novel reclosable container. Another object of this invention is to provide a novel reclosable con-tainer molded of an organo-plastic material. Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel reclosable container molded of organo-plastic material which can be reduced in height as the contents are removed. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel reclosable container molded of an organo-plastic material which can be reduced in height, but which can be effec- :tively sealed with a removably mounted closure when it is at its initial and reduced heights. These and further objects of this invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds and reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view in cross section of an embodiment of this invention having a cylindrical wall provided with continuous external threads;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the container of FIGURE 1 when cut in the plane AA and with the upper portion removed;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment having intermittent external threads 011 the cylindrical wall; and

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view in partial cross section of a third embodiment of this invention The novel reclosable containers of my invention consis-t of open-topped containing members molded of an organo-plastic material with closure-engaging means provided on the outer surfaces of walls thereof, together with removable closures adapted to mate with the closureengaging means to seal the reclosable containers. The containers are provided with closure-engaging means below but in close proximity to the open top, as in the case Patented Jan. 28, 1964 icev of conventional containers, and closure-engaging means are also provided intermediate the ends of the containers.

The containers are preferably molded of a non-brittle organo-plastic material which can be relatively easily severed without pieces of the containers falling into the interiors thereof. Suitable organo-plastic materials which may be used include polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and certain of the styrene polymers. Other suitable organo-plastic materials from which the containers may be molded will be apparent to those skilled in the art, or are described in Modern Plastics Encyclopedia, Vol. 39, No. 1A, published in 1961 by Plastics Catalog Corporation, Bristol, Connecticut, and Modern Packaging Encyclopedia, Vol. 35, No. 3A, published in 1961 by Packaging Catalog Corporation, Bristol, Connecticut. The containers may be clear, translucent, or colored, depending upon the nature of the specific material used. Any suitable method, such as blow molding or injection molding, may be used for forming the containers.

It will be apparent that the last portions of the contents of the containers can be removed as easily as the first portions by cutting the walls of the containers substantially normal to the axes thereof so that closure-engaging means are below but in close proximity to the truncated portions of the walls. The closure-engaging means at the open tops of the containers and intermediate the ends of the containers permit the containers to be effectively sealed to prevent contamination of the contents by dust and dirt, insect infestation, and the like even when the containers heights are reduced, by cutting their Walls in proper relation to the closure-engaging means. The closure-engaging means can be continuous along the walls of the containers, such as in the case of threads, or intermittent to provide space for labeling.

This invention is best described by reference to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals of reference represent corresponding components in each of the several drawings. Referring to FIGURE 1, the numeral 10 represents the open-topped body or containing member molded of an organo-plastic material, such as polyethylene. Containing member 10 has cylindrical side wall 12 and bottom portion 14 defining containing space 16. Wall 12 is provided with external threads 18 extending continuously from its top to a short distance above the bottom thereof. It will be evident that threads 18 can extend along the entire length of Wall 1-2, i.e., to the extreme bottom thereof, but a no actual purpose would be served. The extension of threads 18 to the extreme bottom of wall 12 would only permit the height of containing member 10 to be reduced further, but after the height is reduced to a certain level, no additional advantage will be gained by reducing it further. On the other hand, the termination of threads 1-8 a short distance above the bottom of wall 12 provides space for desired labeling. Engaging containing member 10 in sealing relationship therewith is removable closure 20 having internal threads 22 adapted to engage external threads 18. Closure 29 can be removed for dispensing purposes and thereafter replaced to seal containing member 10, as in the case of conventional jars. Closure 20 can be made of any suitable material such as metal as illustrated, or an organoplastic material.

FIGURE 2 shows containing member 10 of FIGURE 1 reduced in height by wall 12 having been cut along line AA to remove the upper portion. When the container of my invention is used for packaging food, for example, and the level of the food remaining in the container has reached a level at which it is difficult to remove the remaining portions, wall 12 can then be circumferentially cut at a level a short distance above the remaining food, such as at level AA. With the height of containing member thus reduced, the food remaining in space 16 can then be easily removed. External threads 18, extending below the level that wall 12 was cut, permit containing member to be efiectively sealed by threads 22 of closure threadably engaging threads 18. After it again becomes difiicult to remove the contained food, the height of containing member 10 can be again reduced by circumferentially cutting wall 12, such as along level BB. It will be apparent that the outer dimensions of wall 12 must be substantially uniform.

In the embodiment of my invention depicted in FIG- URE 3, external threads are provided only intermittently on wall 12, rather than continuously as shown in the jar illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2. Provided adjacent the open top of containing member 10 are threads only sufficient to secure closure 20 (FIGURE 1) thereto. Spaced from threads 40 is at least one set of additional external threads, with each additional set of external threads being spaced at increasing distances from external threads 40. FIGURE 3 shows containing member 10 with external threads 42 spaced below threads 40, and threads 44 spaced below threads 42. If so desired, wall 12 can be provided with suitable indicia above but in close proximity to threads 42 and 44 to guide one in circumferentially cutting wall 12 so that the truncated surface of wall 12 will be substantially normal to the axis of the jar. An example of suitable indicia are circumferential V-shaped grooves 46 and 48 immediately above threads 42 and 44, respectively. Grooves 46 and 48 serve to aid, as well as guide, one in cutting wall 12 properly. The space on wall 12 between threads 40 and 42, or threads 42 and 44, or both, can be used for labeling. Threads 22 of closure 20 (FIGURE 1) are adapted to threadably engage uppermost threads 40 when containing member 10 is at its initial height, and threads 42 and 44 when wall 12 is severed along respective grooves 46 and 48.

An example of a container having closure-engaging means other than threads and a corresponding closure, and walls which may be noncircular in cross section, is illustrated in FIGURE 4. In this embodiment, polyethylene containing member 60 is square or rectangular in cross section. Provided on walls 62 around the open end of containing member 60 is external rib 64, with at least one additional external rib 66 provided around walls 62 below uppermost rib 64. Indentations 6.8 are located above ribs 66 to aid in the cutting of walls 12 to reduce the height of containing member 60. Sealing the open end of containing member 60 is removable polyethylene closure 70, having downwardly extending skirt 72 provided with inwardly directed latch member, or internally directed rib, 74. Closure 70 is adapted to effectively seal containing member 60 by being pressed down so that latch members 74 engage the under portions of rib 64, or ribs 66 when walls 62 are cut along identations 6S. Closure 70 is removed for dispensing purposes by applying upward pressure to skirt 72. Latch member 74 and/or ribs 64 and 66 may be intermittent rather than continuous as illustrated. It will be apparent that the container of this embodiment may also have cylindrical walls and other closures, such as described in US. Patent 2,982,433.

Although this invention has been described in relation to specific embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications can be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the intended scope of this invention as defined by the following claims. For example, other closure-engaging means with corresponding closures may be used, such as described in U.S. Patents 2,913,134 and 2,979,218.

One important feature in the construction of any modification of the container of my invention is that the portions of the closure-engaging means engageable by the closures in different horizontal planes must all substantially conform in shape. This is most easily accomplished by the containing members having parallel sides, that is, the elements cut by vertical planes through the center are substantially parallel, but this is not essential. For example, the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4 may be frusto-conical in shape, having the ribs extending from the walls of the containing member in increasing distances as the cross-sectional area of the containing member decreases, so that lines drawn through the extremities of the ribs at opposing sides of the containing member will be parallel.

The embodiments of this invention in which an exelusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a reclosable container, at containing member having a bottom wall, an externally threaded cylindrical side wall molded of an organo-plastic material and an open top in combination with a closure having internal threads adapted to engage the external threads on said cylindrical wall, the threads on said cylindrical wall being arranged in vertically spaced groups with one of said groups being adjacent to said open top and the upper edge of other groups terminating in a weakening groove, the surface of said cylindrical wall between said groove and the next adjacent group being substantially smooth, whereby said closure is firmly held in place when said containing member is of initial height and when said containing member is truncated in a plane through a groove.

2. A reclosable container in accordance with claim 1 in which said containing member is molded of a polyolefin.

3. A reclosable container in accordance with claim 2 in which said polyolefin is polyethylene.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 259,899 Moore n June 20, 1882 691,613 Doyle Jan. 21, 1.902 2,717,619 Whitman Sept. 13, 1955 2,896,837 Risucci July 28, 1959 

1. IN A RECLOSABLE CONTAINER, A CONTAINING MEMBER HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, AN EXTERNALLY THREADED CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL MOLDED OF AN ORGANO-PLASTIC MATERIAL AND AN OPEN TOP IN COMBINATION WITH A CLOSURE HAVING INTERNAL THREADS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EXTERNAL THREADS ON SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL, THE THREADS ON SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL BEING ARRANGED IN VERTICALLY SPACED GROUPS WITH ONE OF SAID GROUPS BEING ADJACENT TO SAID OPEN TOP AND THE UPPER EDGE OF OTHER GROUPS TERMINATING IN A WEAKENING GROOVE, THE SURFACE OF SAID CYLINDRICAL WALL BETWEEN SAID GROOVE AND THE NEXT ADJACENT GROUP BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMOOTH, WHEREBY SAID CLOSURE IS FIRMLY HELD IN PLACE WHEN SAID CONTAINING MEMBER IS OF INITIAL HEIGHT AND WHEN SAID CONTAINING MEMBER IS TRUNCATED IN A PLANE THROUGH A GROOVE. 